Detonating toy.



No. 710,531. Pat'qn ted 001.7. I902. w. J. SOMERWILL,

-DETUNATHIG TUY.'

(Application filed July 80, 1902.)

(No Model.)

- MIA/5885s} INVENTOH By 2190a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILIIIAM .I. SOMERW ILII, OF CLEVELAND, OIIIO.

DETONATING TOY.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,531, dated October 7, 1 902.

Application filed July 30, 1902.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. Sonne- WILL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detonating Toys; and I'hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to detonating toys.

The object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which can be cheaply manufactured and which will be much stronger and more durable than any device of this class now on the market. I am aware that devices of this kind have been made having a plunger working within an explosion-chamber, but such devices have proved unsatisfactory, as the plunger is quickly corroded by the action of the fumes from the exploded substance and becomes fixed in the explosion-cbamber,while the explosion-chamber itself soon fills with the unconsu med particles and ashes from the exploded charges.

My invention consists in providing a device of this character comprising two members-a solid hammer portion and a solid anvil portionand a coil-spring for securing the said members together and holding them spaced so that they will receive and grip an explosive charge between their opposing surfaces without crushing or exploding the same.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a view in elevation illustrating my improved device. Fig. II is a view showing the hammer and anvil sprung apart, so as to receive a charge or to permit the surfaces of the respective members to be cleaned. Fig. III is a view of the hammer detached. Fig. IV shows a coil-spring which forms the union between the anvil and hammer. Fig. V shows the anvil detached.

Again referring to the drawings, a represents the anvil-forming member. The anvil a is circular in cross-section, and on the exterior surface thereof is formed a series of ridges a, preferably arranged in the form of a screw-thread a.

On the bottom of the anvil and integral Serial No. 117.662. No model.)

therewith is preferably formed a round butt a preferably of greater diameter than the anvil. An annular flange a may be formed on the surface of the anvil to form a seat for the explosive charge.

T) represents the hammer, which is also circular in cross-section and has a series of ridges d, preferably arranged in the form of a screw-thread, formed on its exterior surface, the trend of which is in the opposite direction to the trend of the thread on the anvil-forming member. On the top of the hammer and integral therewith is formed a head portion 11 on which is arranged a socket 1), adapted to receive the end of a cane or rod; but I do not claim this as a part of my invention, as my device will work equally well when suspended by a cord.

The operation'of this device is readily understood.

In order to assemble the device, it is only necessary to screw the hammer and anvil portions tightly into the respective ends of the coil-spring, and the spring is then tightened so that the opposing surfaces of the two members will be separated by a space less than the thickness of the explosive charge which is to be inserted between the said members. In order to load the device, the members are sprung apart and the charge, generally in the form of a hard lozenge or pellet, is inserted between them.

To explode the charge, the butt-end of the anvil is brought in contact with a comparatively hard substance, such as wood or stone. As soon as the force of the impact expends itself the two members are separated by the action of the spring, and the gases generated by the explosion pass off or become dissipated without injuring the device. Also as the charge is practically unconfined at the time of the explosion there is very little strain or stress on any part of the device, and there is therefore no liability of the device being shattered by the force of the explosion, and all danger of injuryresulting from-such an accident is entirely oviated. After the device has been in use for some time the members can be sprung apart on the spring as'a hinge, as shown in Fig. II, and the surface of the anvil and hammer scraped with the blade of a penknife to remove any deposit which may have formed thereon.

What I claim is l. A device or toy for exploding caps or detonating substances comprising a hammerforming member, a series of ridges formed on the exterior surface of said hammer-forming member, an anvil-forming member, a series of ridges formed on the exterior surface of the anvil-forming member, and a coil-spring having one or more coils at one end engaging with the ridges on the ham mer-forming member and one or more coils at its other end engaging with the ridges on the anvil-forming member, and forming a union between the respective members, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. Adevice or toy for exploding caps or detonating substances, comprising a hammerforming member, a thread arranged on the exterior of the said hammer-forming member, an anvil-forming member, a thread arranged on the exterior of the said anvil-forming member, and a coil-spring arranged to engage with the respective threads on the said members, and form a flexible union between said members, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. A device for exploding caps or detonatingsubstances,comprisingahammer-forming member, a thread arranged on the exterior surface of the hammer-forming member, a head arranged on said hammer-forming member, a socket formed in said head, an anvilforming member, a thread arranged on the exterior surface of the anvil-forming member, and having a reverse trend to the thread on the hammer-forming member, and a coilspring arranged to engage with the respective threads on the said members and form an elastic union between the said members, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign the foregoing specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 26th day of July, 1902, at Cleveland, Ohio.

WILLIAM J. SOMERWILL.

\Vitnesses:

VICTOR O. LYNCH, G. M. HAYES. 

